Alan Thomas Curtis MBE (born 16 April 1954) is a former Wales international footballer, who played as a forward; he is currently the honorary club president of Swansea City.
[7] He chose to remain at his local Grammar school and pass his A-levels before going to Vetch Field for a trial in 1972, by which time he had already won a Wales under-18 cap.
[8] Manager Roy Bentley handed him his debut in the Football League in a 3–1 defeat to Southend United at Roots Hall in August 1972.
The team performed poorly, and a change of manager from Bentley to Harry Gregg could not prevent City being relegated out of the Third Division.
[10] Despite the arrival of John Charles as a coach and Herbie Way's promotion to player-coach, Gregg continued the physical style of football favoured by Bentley that did not suit Curtis well.
[12] Gregg left Swansea midway through the 1974–75 campaign, and new manager Harry Griffiths insisted on playing a pass-and-move style of football.
Griffiths switched Curtis from his usual outside-left to a centre-forward position during the 1975–76 campaign, and the move worked out so well that he remained a striker for the remainder of his career.
[17] The season was a highly successful one for both player and club, as he scored ten goals in 45 appearances to help Swansea to a sixth place league finish.
Curtis worked in most backroom staff roles at Swansea City, as well as being a part of Brian Flynn's Wales under-21 coaching set up.
[24][25] Guidolin was sacked on 3 October 2016 and, after a short period with Bob Bradley in charge, Curtis again served as caretaker-manager before the arrival of Paul Clement in January 2017.
[27][28] Curtis was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to Welsh football.